Members of the International Falls-Koochiching County Airport Commission last week discussed the impact of a late session K-12 education supplemental appropriations bill approved by the Minnesota Legislature that would reduce funding to several agencies.
Among the cuts was $15 million from the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s aeronautics fund, which provides money to the Falls International Airport.
Commission Chairman Bob Anderson in a May 23 letter to Gov. Tim Pawlenty expressed concerns about the state transferring 75 percent of the airport funds and requested reconsideration of the provision.
Because the funds are anticipated revenues and not expected to be taken for other purposes, the commission had already lined up projects, and the cuts would impact scheduled contracts and improvements, according to Anderson.
Anderson asked that the governor use his line item veto to restore the transferred funds to help keep operational the eight small airports with commercial air service in the state — including at International Falls — operated by Local Airline Service Action Committees. Five other cities have already lost LASAC status in recent years.
Anderson and other local airport officials were expected to meet with U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar this week to discuss the concerns. Oberstar on May 23 expressed disappointment in what he called a “raid on funds” that was economically “shortsighted.” He called on Pawlenty to return the funds to be used for expressed purposes.
The cuts will mean canceling the purchase of a pickup truck with plow, a mower and a power washer.
Susan Baratono, airport executive administrator, said major projects moving forward include a parking lot expansion, an airplane taxi lane and road to a hanger site, and improvements to a U.S. Customs facility at the site.
Meanwhile, Baratono informed the commission of concerns about a long-term airport zoning issue.
In a letter to the commission, Mike Louis, State Airport Zoning administrator, stated that the Falls airport, according to its airport layout plan, is not properly zoned for “existing or future conditions” and needs to update its community comprehensive plan to remain eligible for federal and state apportionment funds.
The zoning letter also addressed concerns about an ordinance requirement for the distance of lights from the center of runway.
Bill Ewald, who owns land adjacent to the airport, was present to discuss the idea of a land swap. His property is within the zoning border area of the airport. A swap, he said, would help the airport with any planned runway extensions in future years.
In addition, the commission is planning to correct a depression that began forming last fall under the new Runway 13/31 extension and parallel taxiway.
Benita Crow, an aviation project manager from the engineering firm Short Elliott Hendrickson, of St. Paul, notified the extension contractor Wagner Construction to inspect the “dip”, which appears to involve a culvert and drainage pipe.
Thor Einarson, airport manager, said the safety range of the dip should allow repairs to be made in the fall to avoid shutting the runway down for days or weeks during the busy summer season. The commission discussed procedures to acquire funding for the repairs if the damage does not fall under the warranty that began with the final payment this spring.
Einarson said in his report that on May 28, the FAA approved the completed installation of an additional Instrument Landing System at the Falls airport. He said that it would enhance the safety capacity by aiding aircraft in instrument landing approach in poor weather from any direction.
The airport has had an ILS system for the most frequently used approach on Runway 31 for several years. The new ILS will begin use in July, after it begins appearing in the updated pilots approach manuals.
Einarson went on to explain how the Delta and Northwest Airlines merger approval is causing concerns in the industry. The regional airports that host Mesabi and other smaller commercial airline links are concerned about whether Delta will value the regional system.
He was also concerned with the “daily” rise in fuel prices. He said the price has risen more in the past 60 days than the previous five years. He speculated that it might be more economical for the airlines to continue turboprop service over jets, rather than cutting service all together.